Watch or buy this book:

Get it now on:

Watch or buy this book:

Get it now on:

Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.

A lot or a little?

The parents' guide to what's in this book.

Educational value

Positive messages

The traditional message of "Beauty and the Beast" is the central theme of this retelling: beauty is skin deep. Kyle and his friends are rich, shallow, and obsessed with beauty. Even his father abandons him after he is cursed and loses his physical beauty, although he was already an absent father. Kyle finds true love after he completely rejects his former superficial ways; of course his life depends on it.

Positive role models & representations

The witch, of all people, reveals her altruism in the end: She had cursed Kyle out of love for him. Kyle becomes compassionate in the end; he cares for his friends and supports them. His father remains distant and shallow. Linda is intelligent, strong, and is the caretaker for her junkie father despite his abuse. She falls in love with the beast, but his money and wish fulfillment probably don't hurt.

Violence

The beast accidentally breaks a girl's arm; he threatens to throw a thief off of a roof; a girl is threatened by her father; an assailant is shot; the beast is shot. A main character is almost the victim of an apparent rape.

Sex

Kyle makes out with his girlfriend; it is suggested that they have had sex. In one scene her hand "goes for his crotch." Kyle must be kissed by his true love to break the spell.

Language

Single usage of "pissed," "bastard," "asshole," "bitch," and "hell."

Consumerism

Much discussion of the superiority of rich people but little mention of brand names other than Cheetos, Blackberries, and Evian.

Drinking, drugs & smoking

Kyle and his date drink Vodka after a school dance; Linda's father is a heroin junkie.

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Beastly is a contemporary "Beauty and the Beast" retelling told from the Beast's viewpoint. And before he turns into a beast, Kyle is one mean, shallow rich guy who delights in verbally kicking the nerds until they hurt. Other violence includes characters getting shot and a broken arm, plus a main character is almost the victim of an apparent rape. There's also plenty of kissing with an inference of sex. The film adaptation came out in 2010.

What's the story?

In a comtemporary retelling of \"Beauty and the Beast,\" Kyle Kingsbury has the perfect life in NYC. He's rich, beautiful, and adored by everyone except his parents. He's also conceited, mean, and shallow, just like his father. So mean that a witch curses him by turning him into a beast, with only two years to find someone who will love him without his beauty. His father travels the globe to find a cure but fails, so he sets Kyle up with a blind tutor and a maid and hides him away. Although Kyle finds solace in gardening and the friendship of his captive staff, when he encounters a thief willing to trade his daughter for freedom, he jumps at the chance to convince a girl he is lovable before his time runs out.

Is it any good?

There are no surprises for readers familar wth the fairy tale "Beauty and the Beast," but teens will enjoy the setting and some of the characterizations. The central theme is still transformation and the beast has the same motivations for finding love. Both the main characters (the beauty and the beast) have basically been abandoned emotionally if not physically by their parents, and they attended the same school, so they start off with some common ground.

The use of the chat room sessions for "transformation survivors" adds some entertainment value to a well known story (participants include a mermaid, a frog, and other beasts). Kyle is so mean that it is hard to like him even after he finds true love and the understanding that pretty is as pretty does.

Common Sense is the nation's leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the 21st century.

Headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, D.C.

Help center

Follow Common Sense Media

Common Sense, Common Sense Media, Common Sense Education, and Common Sense Kids Action, associated names, associated trademarks, and logos are trademarks of Common Sense Media, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (FEIN 41-2024986).

An email you'll actually read

You’re all set!

Look out for our weekly updates soon.

Follow us:

Each week we send a customized newsletter to our parent and teen subscribers. Parents can customize their settings to receive recommendations and parent tips based on their kids' ages. Teens receive a version just for them with the latest reviews and top picks for movies, video games, apps, music, books, and more.

Get age-based movie reviews, app recommendations, and more for your kids.